Table Of ContentExplaining Sūrah an-Naba
Original Title: ّمع ءزج يرسفت
Original Author: Muḥammad Ibn Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn
E X P L A I N I N G S Ū R A H
a l - N a b a
By:
Muḥammad Ibn Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn
Sūrah al-Naba: Verses 1-16 ........................................................................................................ 2
The Explanation of Verses 1-16 ............................................................................................... 3
Sūrah al-Naba: Verses 17-30 .................................................................................................... 10
The Explanation of Verses 17-30 ........................................................................................... 11
Sūrah al-Naba: Verses 31-36 .................................................................................................... 22
The Explanation of Verses 31-36 ........................................................................................... 23
Sūrah al-Naba: Verses 37-40 .................................................................................................... 27
The Explanation of Verses 37-40 ........................................................................................... 28
S Ū R A H A L - N A B A
Verses 1-16
ِميِحرَّلا نِ َمحْ رَّلا ِهَّللا ِمْسِب
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of all mercy.
1 About what are they asking one another? َنولُءاسَ َتَي َّمَع
2 About the great news ِميِظعَْلا ِإبََّنلا نِ َع
3 That over which they are in disagreement َنوفُِلَتْخُم ِهيِف مْ ُه يِذَّلا
4 No! They are going to know َنوُملَْعَيَس لاَّ َك
5 Again, no! They are going to know َنومُ َلْعَيَس لاَّ َك َّمُث
6 Have we not made the earth a resting place? ادًاهَِم َضْرَلأا لِ َعْجَن مْ َلأَ
7 And the mountains as stakes? ادًاَتْوَأ لَ ابَِجْلاوَ
8 And we created you in pairs اجً اوَْزأَ مْ ُكاَنْقلََخوَ
9 And we made your sleep (a means for) rest اتًاَبُس مْ ُكَموَْن انَْلَعَجوَ
10 And we made the night as clothing اسً اَبِل َلْيَّللا انَْلَعَجوَ
11 And we made the day for livelihood اشً اَعَم َراَهَّنلا اَنْلَعَجوَ
12 And we constructed above you seven strong ادًاَدِش اعًْبَس مْ ُكَقْوفَ انَْيَنَبَو
(heavens)
13 And we made (therein) a burning lamp اجً اهَّ َو اًجارَِس انَْلَعَجوَ
14 And we sent down, from the rain clouds, اجً اَّجَث ءامَ ِتارَصِ ْعُملْا نَ ِم انَْلزَنأََو
pouring water
15 That we may bring forth thereby grain and اتًاَبَنَو اًّبَح ِهبِ جَ ِرخْ ُنِل
vegetation
16 And gardens of entwined growth1 افًاَفلَْأ تٍ انََّجوَ
1 The Quran, Sūrah an-Naba, 78:1-16.
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T H E E X P L A N A T I O N O F
V e r s e s 1 - 1 6
Verse 1: َنوُلءاَستََي َّمعَ
About what are they asking one another? What are they (the disbelievers) asking
each other about? Allah himself ( ّلجو ّزع ) then answers this question, saying:
Verse 2-3: َنوُفِلَتْخمُ ِهيِف ْمهُ يِذَّلا ِميِظَعلْا ِإَبَّنلا ِنَع
About the great news, that over which they are in disagreement This news is
everything that Prophet Muhammad ( مّلسو هيلع للها ىّلص ) came with of clear teachings,
guidance, and especially the information he gave regarding the Last Day on which
people will be resurrected, judged, and rewarded or punished.
Mankind differs regarding this news that the prophet ( مّلسو هيلع للها ىّلص ) told: some people
believe it and hold it to be true, others reject it and hold it to be all lies. So here, Allah is
clarifying to those who reject it that they will surely soon know with certain knowledge
that what they now believe to be lies is actually the truth. That will be when they see the
Day of Resurrection. The day they see it unfold, those who forgot it before in this life will
say, “The messengers of our lord told the truth!” About this, Allah ( لىاعتو هناحبس ) then
says:
Verse 4-5: َنوُملَْعيََس َّلاَك َّمثُ َنوُملَْعيََس َّلاَك
No! They are going to know. Again, no! They are going to know The second
sentence is a confirmation of the first in meaning…And the knowledge that Allah
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threatens them with here is the certain knowledge they will have when they see the
news (the Day of Resurrection, etc.), witnessing it exactly as it was told to them.
Verse 6: اًداَهِم َضْرَلأا ِلَعْجنَ ْملََأ
Allah ( لىاعت ) then explains his favors and blessings he bestows on his servants so they
may acknowledge them and become thankful for them, he says Have we not made
the earth spread flat? Allah made the earth appear to creation as flat; it is not, for the
most part, hard and rigid to where cultivation is impossible, nor is it difficult to walk
upon. The ground is also not so soft and loose to where people gain no benefit from it.
Instead it is flat, spread out for them for their own well-being so they may benefit from it.
Verse 7: اًداَتْوأَ َلاَبِجلْاَو
And the mountains as stakes? Allah ( لىاعت ) made the mountains like stakes similar
to how stakes or pegs hold a tent firmly down, fixed in its place. Allah also says in
another verse of the Quran:
اهَيِف َكرَابََو اَهِقْوَف نمِ َيسِ اوَرَ اهَيِف َلَعجَ َو
And he placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface, and he
blessed it.2
And about these mountain-stakes, geoscientists say that mountains have below them
solid, deep-rooted, fixed roots within the earth just like a wall would be firmly-rooted into
the ground. For this reason, you find that the mountains are solid and firm, not shaken
by wind. And this is from the complete, perfect power of Allah and his blessings.
2 The Quran, Sūrah Fuṣṣilat, 41:10.
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Verse 8: اجً اَوزَْأ ْمكُانَْقَلَخَو
And we created you in pairs Meaning, he created us of different, complimentary
kinds: male and female, small and big, black and red, sad and happy, and other traits in
which people differ. So people are of varying kinds according to what Allah ( ّلجو ّزع )
wants and sees appropriate, and according to his wisdom. In this way too, people may
consider and respect the power of Allah ( لىاعت ) in that he is capable of making mankind,
who were created from a single substance, from a single father, into so many clearly
varying types.
Verse 9: اتًاَبُس ْمكُ مَْوَن انَْلَعجَ َو
And we made your sleep (a means for) rest Meaning, he made it as a means of
relief from fatigue. So sleep relieves one’s previous exhaustion and work. By it, people
are replenished with energy for the next day. So you find someone who is worn out,
exhausted; after he sleeps, he is again full of vigor and liveliness. This is a favor and
blessing from Allah and a sign from him as he says:
ِهلِْضَف نمِّ مكُؤُاَغتِْباَو ِراهََّنلاَو ِلْيَّللاِب مكُ مُانََم ِهتِاَيآ ْنمَِو
And of his signs is your sleep by night and day and your seeking of his
favors.3
Verse 10: اًساَبِل َلْيَّللا انَْلَعجَ َو
3 The Quran, Sūrah ar-Rūm, 30:23.
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And we made the night as clothing Allah made the night upon earth like clothing
as if the earth wears the night, it being a complete covering for (a particular portion of)
the earth. And a person will not know the reality of this unless he has viewed the earth
from high above. We have seen that; one of the most amazing signs is that when you fly
in a plane and reach a high enough altitude that the sun is not quite visible from the
earth’s surface but you begin to see it rise from the sky, you see that the earth below is
as if it is clothed in black from the night.
Verse 11: اًشاَعمَ رَاهََّنلا انَْلَعجَ َو
And we made the day for livelihood It is a means of livelihood in that most of
mankind earn a living by day, seeking sustenance according to their circumstances.
And this is yet another one of the blessings of Allah ( لىاعتو هناحبس ) on his servants.
Verse 12: اًداَدِش اًعبَْس ْمكُ قَْوَف انَْيَنَبَو
And we constructed above you seven strong (heavens) These are the seven
heavens. Allah ( لىاعت ) describes them as being extremely strong and well-built because
they are indeed strong as Allah ( لىاعت ) says:
َنوُعسِ وُملَ انَِّإَو ٍدْيَأبِ اهَ اَنْيَنَب ءاَمسَّ لاوَ
And the heaven we constructed with strength, and indeed we are
expanding it.4
Meaning, we built it strong and well-fortified.
4 The Quran, Sūrah adh-Dhāriyāt, 51:47.
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Verse 13: اجً اَّهَو اًجاَرِس اَنْلَعجَ َو
And we made (therein) a burning lamp This refers to the sun, a shining lamp of
extremely intense heat. burning The sun is blazing and fiery, and the heat it
produces during the days of summer is extremely intense despite its great distance from
the earth. What about when the sun is brought even closer to the earth? The severe
heat is also from the steam and “breath” of Hell as the prophet ( مّلسو هيلع للها ىّلص ) said:
» مَّنَهَج ِحْيَف ْنِم ِّرَلحا َةَّدِش َّنِإَف ، ةلاَّصلاِب اْوُدِرْبَأَف ُّرَلحا َّدَتْشا اَذِإ «
When the heat intensifies, delay the prayer until it is cooler, for certainly the
intense heat is from the exhalation of Hell.5
And he also ( مّلسو هيلع للها ىّلص ) said:
َنِذَأَف . ُسَّفَنَتَأ يِل ْنِذْأَف ، اًضْعَب يِضْعَب َلَكَأ يِّبَر : ْتَلاَقَف ، اَهِّبَر ىَلِإ ُراَّنلا تَكَتْشِا «
ْنمِ ِدْرَبلا نِم َنْوُدِجَت اَم ُّدَشَأَف . ِفْيَّصلا يِف ٌسَفَنَو ِءاَتِّشلا يِف ٌسَفَن : ِنْيَسَفَنِب اَهَل
» َمَّنَهَج ِحْيَف ْنِم ِّرَلحا نمِ ُنْوُكيَ اَم ُّدَشَأَو ، َمَّنَهَج ِرْيِرَهْمَز
The fire (of Hell) complained to Allah saying, “My lord, parts of me are destroying
other parts. So allow me two breaths” So Allah allowed it two breaths: one breath
in the winter and another breath in the summer. So the severest cold you witness
is from the bitter cold of Hell, and the severest heat is from the exhalation of
Hell.6
5 This ḥadīth is in “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī” (no. 536) and “Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim” (no. 615).
6 Recorded by al-Bukhārī (no. 3620) and Muslim (617).
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Despite the intense temperatures, the sun is still one of the greatest means of well-
being for creation. For one, it saves people lots of money during the daytime in that the
sun suffices people from having to use artificial lighting. Also, the solar energy the sun
provides is another means of great benefit. Yet another benefit is that the sun helps
ripen fruits, and there are many other benefits we gain from this lamp that Allah ( ّلجو ّزع )
has made for his servants.
Verse 14: اجً اَّجثَ ءاَم ِتارَِصْعمُ لْا َنمِ انَْلَزنَأوَ
After Allah mentions the burning lamp which provides heat and dryness, he then
mentions something opposite, yet complimentary; he says: And we sent down, from
the rain clouds, pouring water The rain provides moisture and coolness, and by it,
the earth is made to produce (fruits, vegetation, etc.) and is brought to life once again.
So when the sky’s rainwater is supplemented with sunlight and heat, fruits and
vegetables are ripened and grow into the most perfect forms possible.
And we sent down, from the rain clouds, The Arabic word used here ِتارَصِ ْعُملْا
(al-Mu’ṣirāt) literally means something that squeezes out (َرَصَع), yet it refers to the
clouds. Allah describes the clouds as squeezing as if they squeeze water out during
rainfall like a wet garment may be squeezed or wringed out. The water permeates the
clouds so much that it eventually falls as rain much like water is squeezed from a wet
garment. pouring water means that is flows out immensely.
Verse 15: اًتاَبَنَو اًّبَح ِهبِ َجِرْخنُِل
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That we may bring forth thereby grain and vegetation With this same water that
falls from the sky to the earth and by which the ground sprouts and grows, we (Allah)
produce grains in all its various forms: wheat, barley, corn, etc.
Verse 16: افًاَفْلَأ ٍتانََّجَو
And gardens of entwined growth Meaning: Gardens and orchards intertwining
from the abundance of growth and beauty, and trees and bushes, with their trunks and
branches winding and curving. So from this pouring water, plants and crops are
cultivated like date trees, grapes, etc. regardless of whether these crops benefit directly
from the falling rainwater or by utilizing the water underground, extracting it (by roots).
The water in the depths of the earth is also originally from rain as Allah ( لىاعت ) says:
َنْيِنِزاخَ بِ ُهلَ ْمتُْنَأ اَمَو ُهوُمكُاَنْيَقْسأَفَ ًءاَم ءامَ سَّ لا َنمِ انَْلَزنَأفَ
And we have sent down water from the sky and given you drink from it.
And you are not its retainers.7
Rather, Allah retains the water in the earth. He also says:
ِضْرَلأا يفِ َعْيِباَنَي هُكَ لََسفَ ًءاَم ءاَمسَّ لا َنمِ لَ َزنَأ َهلَّلا َّنَأ َرَت ْملََأ
Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow
as springs in the earth?8
7 The Quran, Sūrah al-Ḥijr, 15:22.
8 The Quran, Sūrah az-Zumar, 39:21.
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S Ū R A H A L - N A B A
Verses 17-30
17 Indeed, the Day of Judgment is an appointed اتًاَقيِم َناكَ ِلْصَفْلا مَوَْي َّنِإ
time
18 The day the horn is blown and you will come اجً اَوفَْأ نَ وتُْأَتَف رِوصُّ لا يِف خُ فَنُي َموْيَ
forth in multitudes
19 And the heaven is opened and will become as ابًاوَبَْأ تْ َناَكَف ءامَ سَّ لا ِتَحِتُفَو
gateways
20 And the mountains are removed and will اًبارَسَ تْ َناَكَف لُ ابَِجْلا تِ َريُِّسَو
become as a mirage
21 Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait ادًاَصْرمِ تْ َناَك َمَّنَهَج َّنِإ
22 For the transgressors, a place of return ابًآمَ َينِغاَّطلِْل
23 In which they will remain for ages (unending). اًباَقحْ أَ اهَيِف ينَ ِِِبلا
24 They will not taste therein (any) coolness or اًبارَشَ لاَو اًدْربَ اَهيِف نَ وقُوُذَي لا
drink
25 Except scalding water and intensely cold اقًاَّسَغَو امً يمِ حَ َّلاِإ
fluid (or foul pus)
26 An appropriate recompense اقًاَفِو ءازَجَ
27 Indeed, they were not expecting an account ابًاَسِح َنوجُ رَْي لا اوُناكَ ْمُهَّنِإ
28 And they denied our verses with (insistent) اًباذَِّك اَنِتاَيآِب اوُبَّذَكَو
denial
29 But all things we have enumerated in writing ابًاتَِك ُهاَنْيَصْحأَ ءٍْيَش لَّ ُكَو
30 So taste (the punishment), and never will we ابًاذََع َّلاِإ ْمُكَديِزنَّ نلََف اوقُوُذَف
increase you except in torment
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